Hammer shroud for revolvers



Aug. 4, 1953 J. M. M NALLY ,3

HAMMER SHROUD FOR REVOLVERS Filed Nov. 3, 1949 JOHN M. M v

By My 7 Patented Aug. 4, 1953 one STT Colts Manufacturing Company,

Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 3, 1949, SerialNo. 125,311

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a hammer shroud for a revolver and to thecombination of the hammer shroud with the revolver.

More particularly, the invention relates to a hammer shroud for arevolver in which the hammer extends beyond the frame and is relativelymovable in an arcuate path and has a cocking projection. A revolver ofthe type described may be carried in a pocket of the user, ordinarily alaw enforcement officer, and it is frequently necessary to quicklywithdraw the .revolver. When the revolver is so withdrawn, there is atendency for the cocking projection on the hammer to engage a portion ofthe pocket, thus preventing the desired quick withdrawal andincidentally sometimes tearing the pocket. For a law enforcement oificerany inability to quickly withdraw the revolver may lead to seriousconsequences.

In accordance with the invention a structurally separate shroud isprovided which is attachable to the frame of the revolver and which isso constructed and shaped that it prevents the hammer from engaging thepocket with the above-described results. The hammer shroud has arcuatefaces at the sides of the hammer, which faces generally conform to thepath of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projection onthe hammer but are nevertheless spaced slightly inwardly from the saidpath so that the said projection is exposed sufiiciently for anynecessary manual engagement.

In the drawing I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of theinvention, but it will be understood that various changes may be madefrom the construction shown, and that the drawing is not to be construedas defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming apart of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a revolver and a hammer shroud thereforembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view similar to Fig. 1 but with the left'portion of the shroud omitted, a portion of the shroud being shown insection.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view .of the shroud.

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a revolver of a well-known type, but it willbe understood that this particular revolver has been selected merely forthe purposes of illustration and that the invention is generallyapplicable to any revolver wherein the hammer projects beyond the frameand is relatively movable in an arcuate path.

The revolver as shown comprises a frame l0 provided with a grip l2 andhaving a barrel l4 carried thereby. The upper rear portion of the framehas opposite parallel side faces. The cylinder as shown at I6 isrotatably mounted on a crane l8 which is pivotally connected to theframe in the usual manner so that the cylinder can be swung laterally,ordinarily toward the left, for loading the cartridges or for e'xtractinthe cartridge shells.

The frame 10 is provided with a trigger guard 20 within which ispositioned a trigger 22. Pivotally mounted within the frame is a hammer24, the hammer being provided with a firing pin 26 and with a cookingprojection 28. The hammer 24 projects beyond the frame and is movable inan arcuate path. By means of conventional mechanism, not shown, movementof the trigger serves to index the cylinder for positioning an unfiredcartridge and serves simultaneously to cook the hammer. Continuedmovement of the trigger releases the hammer to effect firing. By theengagement of the users thumb with the cocking projection 28, the hammermay be manually moved independently of the trigger to a fully cookedposition as shown by full lines in Fig. 2, the cylinder beingsimultaneously indexed. The hammer is automatically latched in the fullycooked position and can be released by the trigger to effect firing.

A hammer shroud is provided which is separate from the frame I0 butwhich is attachable thereto. The hammer shroud may vary as to details,but it is preferably constructed and shaped as shown in the drawing. Thehammer shroud comprises two similar transversely spaced longitudinalwalls 30, 30 which are adapted to be located in fixed positions atopposite sides of the hammer 24. The walls 30, 30 of the shroud areshaped at their inner edges to approximately fit the immediatelyadjacent portion of the frame, and they are preferably provided withopposite parallel faces which are spaced to register, with the parallelside faces of the frame as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The space betweenthe walls 30, 30 is outwardly exposed and the said walls are outwardlyexposed at their outer edges and are shaped to provide arcuate faceswhich generally conform to the path of movement of the outermost portionof the cocking projection 28 on the hammer. The said outer faces of thewalls 30, 30 while generally conforming to the said path of arcuatemovement are nevertheless spaced slightly inwardly therefrom, thusenabling the projection 28 to remain exposed sufficiently for manualengagement so that independent manual cocking can be effected in theusual manner.

Preferably the Walls 30, 39 of the shroud are connected with each otherby an integral trans,- verse connection 32 which extends betweenthe saidwalls near the rear portions thereof. The said transverse connection 32is adapted to be; positioned at the rear of the hammer and is shaped toengage at its front witha rear portion of the frame.

Formed integrally with the walls 30, 30F of, the shroud are laterallyoffset forward projections 34, 34, these projections being spacedandshaped to engage the opposite lateral faces of the frame. I, I Thesaid transverse connection 32 is provided with a longitudinal hole oraperture 36 for receiving ascrew 38, the screw extending intoathread edaperture in the frame ill. Preferably the aperture 36 is countersunk orcounterboredf. to receive the head of the screw. The said, offsetprojections 36, 34 are provided with transverse holes or apertures 48,40 for receiving screwsAZ, the screws extending into threadedapertures,in the frame 10. Preferably the apertures 4th 4i] are. countersunk orcounterbored. to receive} the 1 heads of the screws.

With the shroud attached to the revolver as described, the hammer isentirely guarded ex.- cept for the required slight exposure of thecookins projection 28 beyond the edge faces. of the walls 3!], 30. Whenthe revolver is. carried. in, a pocket of the user, it can be quicklyand easily withdrawn without the possibility of theham: mer catching inthe fabric of thepocket to, Lire vent withdrawal or to damage thepocket.

It will be seen that a hammer shroudembodying theinvention is adaptedfor attachment to a previously or separately manufactured revolver, no,change in the revolver construction being re!- quired other than thedrilling and tapping of the, necessary holes for the screws38 and; Ifthe conditions of intended use of the revolvje'r should be-changedsothat theshroud isnolo nger necessary or desirable, the shroud. can be;readily removed.

What is claimed is:

1. For a revolver having aframe and having a hammer extending beyond theframe which hafn-v mer is relatively movablein an arcuate path and has acocking projection, a, shroud for the said hammer separate from andattachable, to the said frame and having two similar transversely spacedlongitudinal walls adapted to. be located infixed positions at oppositesides, of the ham-1 mer, the space between the said. walls being out.-wardly exposed and the said walls, being shaped at their inner edges toapproximatelyfit the frame and the said walls having exposed} outeredges shaped to provide arcuate-faces which; generally conform to thepath of movement of the outermost portion of the cooking projection onthe, hammer and which are spaced slightly in,- wardly from the said pathso that the said, pro: jection is outwardly exposed for mannaen,-gagement, each ofsaid walls. having a. laterally offset forwardprojection spaced from each. other for engaging lateral faces of saidframe.

ward projections on the respective walls and also comprising an integraltransverse connection between the said walls near the rear portionsthereor; the said: spaced walls being adapted to be positionedatopposite sides of the hammer and beingshaped at their inner edges toapproximatel y; n the frame and being shaped at their outer edges toprovide arcuate faces which generally conform to-but are spaced slightlyinward- 1y, from the path of movement of the outermost portion of thecocking projection on the hammer and the said laterally offsetprojections being spaced and shaped to engagethe parallellateral facesof'the frame and being transversely apertured to receive attachingscrews and; the said transverse connection being positioned and shaped;to engage'atits front with a rear portion, of the frame and beinglongitudinally aperture'df to receive an attaching screw.

3: 'Iih'e combination of a revolver having a framewith parallel lateralfaces and having a hammer extending beyond the frame which hammer isrelatively movable in an arcuate path and has a cooking projection, a,shroud for the said hammer separate from the said frame and cornpris ingtwo similar transversely spaced longitudinal" walls and comprisinglaterally offset forward proiectionls'on the respective walls and alsocomprising an integral transverse connection betwe'en'the saidwalls nearthe rear portions thereof, the said shroud walls being positioned atoppositesides or; the hammer and approximately fittingthe frame at theirinner edges and being shaped at their outer edges to provide arcuatefaces which generally conform to but are spaced slig'htly'inwa-rdly fromthe path of movement of the outermost portion of the cocking projectionon the hammer and the said laterally offset projections of; the shroudengaging the said parallel lateral-faces of th'e frame andbeingtransversely apertured and the said transverse connection of 1 theshroud" being positioned at the rear of the hammer and engaging at itsfront with a rear portion of the frame and being longitudinallyapertured, and screws extending through the apertures in" the forwardprojections and transverse connection of" the shroud for attaching thesaid shroud to the frame of the revolver.

JOHN M. MCNALLY.

References Cited in the file Of, this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 561,963 Caldwell l- June 16, 1896 I 824,197 Neal June26, 1906 1,290,292 Morrison Jan. 7., 1 919. esaaac Peake Apr. 12,, 19322,117,826 Seidl May 17, 1938 2,527,957. Phillips Oct. 31, 1950 2,579,736Gartner Dec. 25, 1 951.

